Using temperatures recorded at coastal weather stations to trigger Cold Weather Payments could be leaving householders out in the cold, warns local MP Simon Hart.

The average temperature must be below freezing on seven consecutive days for the automatic payments of £25 a week to be made.

But the measuring station for many households in South Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West is based at Pembrey Sands.

Mr Hart thinks this could be unfair on people who live further inland.

"Obviously it is often warmer around the coast than it is further inland and I think that people could be missing out.

"The temperature rarely drops that low by the sea but if you live in somewhere like Glandy Cross which is not only miles from the sea but also quite high then it is a lot colder."

Mr Hart has now asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to investigate the adequacy of using coastal stations for the measurements.

Minister Steve Webb said that the cold weather payment scheme links areas together by postcodes and these are then matched to the weather stations with the most similar average winter temperature.

However he did say that the payment scheme was reviewed annually after each winter and that Mr Hart's suggestion would be considered.

"As part of the next review we will consider the use of coastal weather stations for applicants who live inland," he said.

Mr Hart added: "It only seems fair that payments are not only calculated on coastal data but that more inland figures are also taken into account. Even if just one extra station from an inland area that is added in it then would be a much fairer system."